Self-contained window cleaning implement



Filed NOV. 25, 1950 INVENTOR llllll II latented Mar. 1, 1955 UnitedStates Patent Office SELF-CONTAINED WINDOW CLEANING IMPLEMENT RalphAndrew Anderson, Perth Amboy, N. J. Application November 25, 1950,Serial No. 197,600

4 Claims. (Cl. 15-136) The invention relates to improvements in windowcleaning implements of the self-contained type for washing and wipingwindows More particularly, it relates to self-contained window cleaningimplements of the type having a sponge (or brush) and a squeegeeattached to a handle which also serves as a reservoir for cleaningfluid, and includes a discharge nozzle and manually operable liquidpumping means for discharging fluid from the reservoir through thenozzle in a small stream or squirt.

Various types of self-contained window cleaning implements have beendesigned wherein cleaning fluid may be transferred onto a window surfacebeing cleaned either directly, through a spray nozzle, or indirectlythrough a porous cleaning element. Most of such devices, however, aremade largely of metal and (as a result) are cumbersome, awkward to use,and expensive to manufacture. Also, require a mechanical device such asa manually operable piston for pumping the cleaning fluid. Suchconstruction requires the careful assembly of relatively large numbersof separate parts to form an implement of this type resulting in a highmanufacturing cost.

The present invention differs from prior devices p'rincipally in certainfeatures of construction, arrangfiment, and combination of parts, whichresult in the production of an improved and simplified self-containedwindow cleaning implement.

The advantages of the Well-known techniques of casting plasticmaterials, and in particular die casting and injection molding, as wellas the great numbers of different materials which can be so cast,provides a most economical method for the production of largenumbers ofpreformed articles at low cost.

The application of these techniques to the production of aself-contained window cleaning implement has made it possible to producean improved cleaning implement which is constructed of a minimum numberof separate parts. Also, by the use of a resilient (rubber) tubularpumping element, further simplification and reduction of the number ofparts and cost is obtained.

The object of the invention is" to provide an improved and simplifiedself-contained Window cleaning implement which is light in weight,convenient to use, and inexpensive to manufacture.

Another object of the invention is to provide a selfcontained windowcleaning implement having 'an elongated tubular reservoir with integralcheck valve and conduit means within an inwardly enlarged wallportion orrib of said reservoir.

Another object of the invention is to provide a selfcontained windowcleaning implement having a resilient tubular pumping element mountedlongitudinally on the reservoir for convenient hand grip operation by auser.

Another object of the invention is to pr'ovide a selfcontained windowcleaning implement having an elongated tubular reservoir with integralcheck valve and conduit means within an enlarged wall portion of thereservoir, and a longitudinally mounted resilient tubular pumpingelement connected with said valve and conduit means for hand gripoperation by a user for' pumping cleaning fluid through a nozzle as asmall stream or squirt. v 7

Another object of the invention is to provide a selfcontained windowcleaning implement having a tubular reservoir made of a rigid plasticmaterial which has,

such previous devices usually saw,

the present construction provides a tubular liquid 2 within an inwardlyenlarged wall portion or rib, an integral check valve: chamber andconduit means connectmg. the reservoir with an integrally formed nozzlenear the upper end of said reservoir.

A feature of the invention is the construction of the reservoir byjoining. and sealing together two cooperating longitudinal half-sectioncastings having identical preformed recesses or depressions in acorresponding mated wall of each half-section so that an integral checkvalve chamber and fluid conduits are formed within a wall portion ofsaid reservoir when the two half-section castmgs are joined together.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of means for thedetachable mounting of a cleaning element and a wiping element on theupper end of said reservoir.

The foregoing and many other advantages and desirable features of theinvention will appear as a disclosure of a preferred embodiment is morefully made in the following detailed description and accompanying sheetof drawings. In the accompanying drawings, the body or reservoir portionof the device is shown somewhat enlarged with respect to the squeegeeand sponge elements mounted thereon, in order to more clearly disclosethe novel features of the invention.

In this drawing, Fig. 1 is a vertical elevation of the improvedself-contained window cleaner; Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectionalview along the line II-Il, Fig. l, with the cap 10 and gasket 11removed; Fig. 3 is a cross section only of the device along the lineIII-III, Fig. 1-, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 4 is across section only of the device along the line IV-IV, Fig. 1, lookingin the direction of the arrows; Fig. 5 is a cross section of the devicealong the line VV, Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

The drawing shows a vertical tubular liquid supply container which actsas a reservoir for holding cleaning fluid and as a conveniently graspedhandle for the entire device so that it can be easily manipulated by onehand of an operator in use.

In one form of the invention as illustrated, a liquid supply containerclosed at its upper end is formed as a convenient elongated handle byjoining and sealing together two cooperating longitudinal half-sectionplastic castings 1 and. 2, said half-section parts having preformedcooperating recesses or depressions along a thickened mating edge ofeach half-section so that when alignedand joined together along lines a,a as shown, in Figs. 2 through 5, these half-sections not only form thedesired container but also provide a single integral rib comprisinganinwardly enlarged wall portion which extends down longitudinally onone side along the inner wall of the container from its upper end nearlyto the bottom thereof as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The preformed.depressions are thus arranged to provide within the longitudinallyextended integral rib, a nozzle orifice 3, a conduit 4, and a checkvalve chamber complete with inlet orifice 5, and control orifice 6. Notshown in the drawings are any conventional interlocking protuberances orgrooves along lines a, a which could be used, if necesto provide a meansfor accurately aligning the two matched halves of the container. Toprovide a more perfect valve seat for the ball check 7, a funnebshapedinsert 8, which might preferably be of metal, could be used as shown.Also, in order to prevent the ball check 7 from blocking either theconduit 4, or the control orificc' 6,, a means such as the attachedtransverse pin 9, Figs. 1 and 2, could be used. Of course, the ballcheck 7,, valve seat 8, and pin 9, would be placed properly in the'valve cavity of one. of the half-sections before sealing together withits mated half section. It will largely be obvious from the previousdescription and drawings that pp y container having an integral ribwhich extends down along the inner wall of said container with a checkvalve and fluid conduits therein providing means for elrecting transferof fluid from the container out through the nozzle orifice 3'.

As shown in Fig. 1, the lower, open end of this container is threaded sothat it may be closed tightly with a screw-on cap 10 having a gasket 11.

The cleaning fluid may be pumped out through-the nozzle orifice 3 bymeans of a resilient rubber-like pumping element 12 of generally tubularform integral with the rubberbands 13 and '14 at 'each end encirclingthe container tightly, and oriented thereon so that-an orifice on theinside surface of the lowermost band 14 shall connect firmly with thecontrol orifice 6 so as to provide a leakproof pumping connectionbetween 'the tubular pumping element 12 and the valve chamber as shownin Fig. 1. The upper band 13 and thelower band 14 are further orientedso that the resilient tubular pumping element 12 is held close to theouter container wall and in normal axial alignment with said container.It should be obvious that other equally suitable means could be used tomount the tubular pumping element 12 longitudinally on the container.

The rubber bands 13 and 14 thus tend to reinforce and protect theplastic container formed of the two halfsections 1 and 2, and furtherreinforcement of the upper end of the container is obtained by means ofthe two machine screws 16 and 17 (see Fig. 2), one attached inhalf-section 1, the other in half-section 2, used to hold the bracket 18in a recessed transverse groove across the closed top end of thecontainer.

The extended ends of bracket 18 each have twooppositely disposeddove-tail shaped cut-out sections adapted to hold firmly but removably,a cooperating dove-tail mounted squeegee 19 and cellulose sponge 15.This bracket should preferably be of springable corrosion resistantmetal so that the dove-tail gripping connection could be maintained bybending or twisting the extended ends slightly askew.

Thus, both the squeegee and the cellulose sponge or other scrubbingmeans would be removable for replacement or cleaning so that differentwidths of squeegee and/or cellulose sponge could be interchangeablyused. In the form of the invention as herein illustrated, it has seemedgenerally most desirable to have the resilient tubular pumping element12, the nozzle orifice 3, and the cellulose sponge 15, all disposed onthe same side of the device. The device may thus be conveniently grippedand held in one hand, with the nozzle orifice 3 directed towards awindow, and with all fingers except the thumb resting on the tubularpumping element 12. When the reservoir is first filled with cleaningfluid, the pumping element 12 contains air. However, upon .initiallysqueezing or compressing element 12 by tightening the fingers, almostall of the air is forced out of element J 12 through control orifice 6into the valve chamber where it escapes by passing out through nozzleorifice 3. Now when the fingers are relaxed sufficiently, the tubularpumping element 12 by its inherent resilience expands to its normal formand draws in liquid from the reset;

voir through control orifice 6 and valve inlet orifice 5. The ball check7 seats by gravity in the valve seat 8 and, since the liquid level inthe reservoir is normally higher than inlet orifice 5 and controlorifice 6, air cannot normally be drawn down into the pumping element 12through the nozzle orifice 3 and conduit4. With the pumping element 12thus essentially full of cleaning fluid, again tightening the fingerswill compress the resilient tubular pumping element 12, and cleaningfluid will be pumped from element 12 through orifice 6 into the valvechamber up through conduit 4, and out through nozzle orifice 3 as asmall stream or squirt which may be directed onto a window pane. Theball check 7 thus acts to permit fluid to be drawn into the resilienttubular pumping element 12 when that element is allowed to expand, andto prevent liquid from re-entering the reservoir when element 12 iscompressed. When element 12 is manually compressed, the ball check 7 isseated tightly both by gravity and by fluid pressure so that thecleaning fluid is forced out through the nozzle orifice 3. Thus, ineffect, the only moving part is the ball check 7.

A capillary air vent 20 (Figs. 1 and 2) is provided at the upper end ofthe reservoir to prevent any fluid in the reservoir from being forcedout through the nozzle orifice 3 when the ambient temperature rises orthe atmospheric the device is used to close and to permit refilling thereservoir. However, in refilling this reservoir the capillary vent 20would be at the bottom. Therefore, in order to prevent loss of fluidthrough this capillary vent during the refilling, either a finger couldbe placed on the vent, or, a separate, simple rubber band (not shown)encircling the (normally) upper end of the reservoir could be simplyslipped over the capillary vent 20 in order to seal it temporarily whilerefilling.

In use, the device is held in one hand with the nozzle directed towards,e. g., a window, and a quick succession of pressure and release on therubber pumping element 12 by the fingers of the same hand, will, by apositive pumping action, squirt the desired amount of cleaning fluidonto the window. Immediately, with no change of the position of thedevice as initially held in the hand, the cellulose sponge (or brush)portion of the device, in a cleaning and scrubbing action is used toapply and spread the cleaning liquid. Upon then rotating the device inthe hand, the squeegee part may then be quickly used in a conventionalmanner to completely remove the film of dirty fluid from the window.

The preceding description and accompanying drawings have disclosed animproved and simplified selfcontained window cleaning implement whichmay be constructed at low cost from a minimum number of separate partsto provide a convenient and useful, inexpensively manufactured, windowcleaning device.

The several advantages and features of the invention have been pointedout heretofore. Other advantages and features will undoubtedly occur tothose skilled in the art as well as will numerous modifications andalterations in the preferred construction illustrated. It will beunderstood, of course, that these deviations may be accomplished withoutsacrificing any of the principles of the invention and without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A cleaning implement of the type described including a rigid verticaltubular handle which is adapted to function as a reservoir for liquids,an integral fixed nozzle orifice which protrudes from one side of saidhandle near the upper end thereof, an integral rib which extends downlongitudinally along the inner wall of said handle from a positionbehind said nozzle orifice to a position near the bottom of saidreservoir, a check valve within the lower end of said rib having itslower end below the normal level of liquid in the reservoir and indirect flow controlling communication therewith, a conduit which extendsup through said rib for connecting said check valve with said nozzleorifice, and a liquid pumping element mounted exteriorly of saidreservoir, said element consisting of an elongated rubber tube closed atits upper end and having its lower end in flow connection with saidconduit at its juncture with said check valve, said rubber tube beingmounted longitudinally on said one side of said handle and having anintermediate longitudinal flexible portion exposed for direct manualengagement by the fingers of an operator while grasping said handlewhereby said check valve blocks the passage of liquid therethrough whenthe rubber pumping element is compressed and permits liquid to flow fromthe reservoir therethrough into the rubber pumping element when thatelement is released.

2. A self contained cleaning implement having a rigid vertical tubularhandle adapted to function as a container for liquids, an integral fixednozzle orifice which protrudes from one side of said handle near theupper end thereof, an integral rib which extends down longitudinallyalong the inner wall of said handle from a position behind said nozzleorifice to a position near the bottom of said container, a check valvewithin the lower end of said rib in direct flow connection with liquidin said container, a conduit which extends up through said rib forconnecting said check valve with said nozzle orifice, and a liquidpumping element made wholly of rubber having a substantial degree ofelasticity, said pumping element comprising an elongated rubber tubeclosed at its upper end and having its lower end in liquid pumpingconnection with said conduit at its juncture with said check valve, saidtubular pumping element having an integral resilient rubber band at eachend fitting closely about said handle for mounting the pumping elementlongitudinally thereon and for holding it in leakproof connection withsaid conduit, said rubber pumping element having an intermediatelongitudinal flexible portion exposed for direct manual engagement bythe fingers of an operator while grasping said handle for pumping liquidfrom said container out through said nozzle orifice.

3. A self contained window cleaning implement havmg an elongated rigidvertical tubular handle of generally uniform cross-section along itslength and of a suitable size to be conveniently grasped by an operatorshand, said handle being hollow and thereby adapted, by a closure at itslower end, to serve as a reservoir for liquids, said handle having anintegral top wall portion of substantially heavy section at the upperend thereof having a substantially flat transverse groove across the topfor mounting a support for a cleaning element thereon, an integral fixednozzle orifice at one side of said handle near the upper end thereof andat a position for directing a stream of liquid therefrom in a directionalong a line substantially at right angles to a vertical plane throughsaid transverse groove, and in close proximity to a mounted cleaningelement, an integral rib which extends longitudinally down along theinside wall surface of said reservoir from a position of alignmentbehind said nozzle orifice to a position near the lower end of saidreservoir, a check valve within the lower end of said rib having itslower end below the normal level of liquid contained in the reservoirand in direct flow controlling communication therewith, a conduit whichextends up through said rib for conducting liquid from said check valveto said nozzle orifice, an integral pumping connection on said one sideof said handle near the lower end thereof and in flow connection withsaid conduit at its juncture with said check valve, and a liquid pumpingelement made wholly of rubber which consists of an elongated rubber tubemounted longitudinally along said one side of said handle, said rubbertube having its upper end closed and having its lower end operativelyattached to said pumping connection, said rubber tube having an integralflexible rubber band at each end fitting closely around said handle formounting said rubber pumping element thereon and for holding it inleakproof connection with said pumping connection, said rubber pumpingelement having an intermediate longitudinal flexible portion exposed fordirect manual engagement by the fingers of an operator while graspingsaid handle for pumping liquid from said reservoir out through saidnozzle orifice onto a surface to which the cleaning element issimultaneously applied.

4. In a cleaning implement of the type described, having a rigidvertical tubular handle which is adapted to function as a liquidreservoir, a fixed nozzle orifice near the upper end thereof, a checkvalve at the lower end thereof in direct flow connection with liquid insaid reservoir, and a conduit extending upwardly from said check valveto said nozzle orifice, an improved liquid pumping element whichconsists of a unitary structure formed wholly of rubber having asubstantial degree of elasticity, said element comprising an elongatedrubber tube closed at its upper end and having its lower end in liquidpumping connection with said conduit at its juncture with said checkvalve, said tubular pumping element having an integral resilient rubberband at each end fitting closely about said handle for mounting thepumping element longitudinally thereon and for holding it in leakproofconnection with said conduit, said rubber pumping element having anintermediate longitudinal flexible portion exposed for direct manualengagement by the fingers of an operator in use while grasping saidhandle, for pumpingfi liquid from said reservoir out through said nozzleor ce.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

